New Smyrna Beach, FL - Members of Volusia County's Marine Mammal Stranding Team scrambled to the New Smyrna side of Ponce De Leon Inlet this morning to help a beached female manatee.
The distressed manatee was discovered just before 8 a.m. north of the jetty, according to Volusia County Beach Safety Captain Tammy Malphurs.
"It is approximately 9 to 10 feet in length," Malphurs added.
State wildlife officials have since returned the manatee to the ocean.
It's not clear at this point what caused the manatee to beach itself, but state officials think she may have been chased onto the beach by males looking to mate.
Photos above and below are courtesy of VCBS.
